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e z a s e g a g a s i n i

01 November - 14 November 2013 Your FREE Newspaper

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CLEAN MY CITY CONTINUES

News: Page 3

GETTING PEOPLE MOVING

Features: Page 6

Govt to invest R50 billion in rail infrastucture

SLINDILE MALULEKA VER the next few years, Government plans to invest over R50 billion in passenger rail infrastructure. This announcement was recently made by President Jacob Zuma during the official launch of the Bridge City Rail Link project in KwaMashu. The launch forms part of Government?s programme of rolling out infrastructure projects and is one of the major highlights of Transport Month. Government has invested over R1 bn in the project, built by the Department of Transport through the Passenger Rail Association of South Africa (PRASA). The launch of the 3.5km Bridge City Rail Link project was attended by a national and provincial delegation. The R1.3 bn new station, which includes a bus and taxi interchange, is the largest rail infrastructure development project in Durban area.?We have proven our commitment to investing in public transport. Since rail is the future backbone of our public transport system, Government will over the next few years invest over R50 bn in passenger rail infrastructure and services,? said Zuma.Being only 17km from the Durban city centre, the Bridge City station brings together the communities of Phoenix, Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu and links them into the urban system. It serves as the social and commercial centre to an area housing a population of over 800 000 people. Bridge City is expected to boost economic growth in the nearby communities as it improves their access to public transport and opportunities to work, travel, shop and do business.?This development contributes to fulfilling our dream of creating proper human settlements in which people have easy access to all facilities,? said Zuma. The President unveiled the National Infrastructure Plan in the 2012 State of the Nation Address, whose key function is the coordination of infrastructure build centrally in the Presidency, through the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, (PICC), chaired by Zuma. The new rail link provides for an extra 8 000 passengers per day accessing the rail network and the project has already made a significan contribution to local job creation, peaking at 27 500 jobs during the construction period.

EThekwini Congratulates Sharks!

The Mayor Cllr James Nxumalo led a delegation of all eThekwini Councillors to welcome the Natal Sharks rugby team who have been recently crowned the 2013 ABSA Currie Cup champions. Nxumalo said ?I want to thank the Sharks team for making us proud. The entire city of eThekwini is proud of you. You are our boys and we will always do everything in our power in order to ensure that we support you so that you could continue to bring many trophies home. We also want to use sport to unite our people and in order to integrate all races to the niche sports.? Picture: GUGU MQADI

INK Water shortage solution

THEMBA KHUMALO MAYOR James Nxumalo has assured residents of Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) that current water shortages in the area will soon be a thing of the past. Speaking on local radio station Vibe FM recently Nxumalo said the Western and Northern Aqueduct project is back on track and is expected to be completed in 2015. The 55km second phase of the project is expected to significantly strengthen the capacity of bulk water supply to the western regions of eThekwini, injecting up to 400 megalitres a day while ultimately boosting much-needed water supplies to the north of Durban. The project begins at Inchanga Station and ends at Ntuzuma and includes two branch pipelines to Tshelimnyama and Mount Moriah. ?This project was scheduled for completion in 2017; however upon seeing the urgency to provide water to the western and northern areas which have been most affected, we decided to add more money so that it could be finished sooner.? Mayor Nxumalo added that the Municipality was forging ahead with plans for the electrification of informal settlements, provision of ablution facilities and water supply to informal settlements and transit camps. Addressing a resident from KwaBester in KwaMashu who complained about the deplorable conditions that they live in, Nxumalo said the Municipality was currently conducting a study to look at redesigning the area. We understand the challenges faced by people of this area and we would like to assure them that as a Municipality we are doing everything possible to correct the situation.? themba.khumalo@durban.gov.za

Mayor expresses his condolences over the death of two children

THEMBA KHUMALO MAYOR James Nxumalo has sent his condolences to the Cele family following the passing away of two children at Luganda in Marianhill on Sunday. The two children, Alwande Ngcobo (3) and Senamile Cele (3) drowned in a pit which filled up after heavy rains on Saturday. Their mother said she suspects that Senamile went to get her cousin, Alwande, so they could play outside. ?I don?t think they realised how deep the pit was as there was water all over the yard.? Xolisile said when they realised that their kids were missing they went to look for them outside and that is when they found them floating in a pit that was meant for a toilet. Mayor Nxumalo visited the family and said ?On behalf of the Municipality, I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the Cele family, friends and loved ones. We want to assure you that the Municipality will meet you halfway with funeral arrangements.? Member of the Cele family Bongani Mjoka said the family felt consoled by the Mayor?s visit and that of the local Councillor. ?We feel very privileged to have leaders of your calibre. We want to thank the Mayor and the Municipality for offering to assist the family with funeral arrangements. We also want to thank our Councillor Mduduzi Gumede who has been with us since he heard of this incident.? The Municipality is still assessing the extent of the damage and will provide the necessary assistance to victims. Emergency teams remain on high alert and residents are urged to be vigilant at all times.

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